Promiscuity

:See also promiscuous mode, in the context of computer networking.

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Promiscuity is the practice of making relatively unselective, casual and indiscriminate choices.

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The term is most commonly applied to sexual behavior, where it refers to sex that is not in the framework of a steady sexual relationship, or occurs in multiple, simultaneous sexual relationships. A promiscuous person may nevertheless be quite selective in their choice of sexual partners.

Related Topics:
Sexual behavior - Sexual relationship

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A common concern about promiscuity is the potential to run a higher risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) including HIV which may eventually lead to AIDS. Promiscuous behaviour requires strict application of safer sex measures, in order to reduce this risk. However, consecutive monogamous sexual relationships (serial monogamy) without safer sex measures can pose a similar risk.

Related Topics:
Sexually transmitted disease - HIV - AIDS - Safer sex - Monogamous - Serial monogamy

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In some cases, promiscuous behaviour is caused by definite pathology such as manic episodes of bipolar disorder, some forms of brain tumors, or alcohol and substance abuse.

Related Topics:
Bipolar disorder - Brain tumor

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Some sects, cults, and religious orders have a place for promiscuous behaviour. There were special examples of religious prostitution in ancient Mesopotamia, Greece and Rome.

Related Topics:
Religious prostitution - Mesopotamia - Greece - Rome

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What is socially acceptable in promiscuous behaviour varies widely between cultures, and for different groups within a culture. In some contexts, a woman who has sex with any man other than her husband is considered promiscuous, while the term may not be applied to a man from the same culture likewise having extramarital sex. In other cultures, the term applies only to people who have more than one lover at the same time.

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It is difficult to accurately assess people's sexual behaviour, since there are strong social and personal motivations to either minimise or exaggerate reported sexual activity, depending on social sanctions and taboos.

Related Topics:
Sanctions - Taboos

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The best statistical evidence of actual sexual behaviour is derived from research into sexually transmitted diseases. Extensive mathematical research has been conducted to model different mathematical models of sexual behaviour and to compare the results generated with the observed prevalence of STDs to try to estimate the probable actual sexual behavior of the population.

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People's numbers of sexual partners, both over their lifetime and concurrently, varies widely over the population. Studies of STD spread have consistently shown that a small minority of the population have substantially more partners than the average, and a large minority (including those who abstain from sex) have less than the average.

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One important issue in STD epidemiology is whether these groups have sex mostly within their groups (so-called assortative mixing) or at random.

Related Topics:
Epidemiology - Assortative mixing

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There is a growing modern movement to promote the acceptance of promiscuity in the context of honesty and safer sex. A crucial text in this regard is The Ethical Slut by Dossie Easton and Catherine A. Liszt.

Related Topics:
Safer sex - The Ethical Slut - Dossie Easton - Catherine A. Liszt

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